Max Scherzer vs John Smoltz: Career Stats Comparison
Max Scherzer (2008–present) and John Smoltz (1988–2009) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Max Scherzer compiled 221 wins and 3,489 strikeouts; John Smoltz put up 213 wins and 3,084 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Max Scherzer
John Smoltz
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Max Scherzer | John Smoltz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 221 | 213 |
| Losses | 117 | 155 |
| Games | 483 | 723 |
| Games Started | 474 | 481 |
| Complete Games | 12 | 53 |
| Shutouts | 5 | 16 |
| Saves | 0 | 154 |
| Strikeouts | 3,489 | 3,084 |
| Walks | 779 | 1,010 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,433 | 3,074 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 354 | 288 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,963 | 3,473 |
| ERA | 3.22 | 3.33 |
| WHIP | 1.08 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | 10.60 | 7.99 |
| BB/9 | 2.37 | 2.62 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), John Smoltz outpaces Max Scherzer 91,907 to 68,491 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (4,178 vs 3,425 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Max Scherzer — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
John Smoltz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Max Scherzer leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while John Smoltz owns innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Max Scherzer. Note that PIV actually grades John Smoltz ahead, which means Max Scherzer's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.